In addition to Herman Melville's own experience on the whaling ship Acushnet; two real events served as the genesis for his Moby Dick. One was the sinking of the Nantucket ship Essex in 1820; after a sperm whale rammed her 2;000 miles (3;200 km) from the western coast of South America.

The other event was the alleged killing in the late 1830s of the albino sperm whale Mocha Dick; in the waters off the Chilean island of Mocha. Mocha Dick was rumored to have 20 or so harpoons in his back from other whalers; and appeared to attack ships with premeditated ferocity.